Newly opened Édes Mackó by Budapest Zoo is the first confectionery in the city to sell desserts only made with the iconic Hungarian kürtőskalács, aka chimney cake. Baked over an open fire, this cylindrical treat is available as a whole or cut into chunks and served with chocolate fondue or vanilla pudding at the recently inaugurated fairytale castle inside the menagerie. Passers-by without tickets to the zoo can place their order at the takeaway hatch overlooking the street.

Among the recent developments at Budapest Zoo are an interactive playground for children and a menagerie for domestic animals, all part of the Holnemvolt (‘Once Upon a Time’) Castle, incorporating vintage elements of the city’s revered Amusement Park.

Along with these new features, culinary outlets now include Édes Mackó, a new dessert destination also accessible from outside on the street. Found by the zoo's horse stable, here you’ll find irresistible chimney cake created by the traditional Vitéz Kürtős group, a permanent vendor at Budapest's major Christmas markets.

The selection at this zoo-based confectionery features the round-shaped treat coated with cinnamon, cocoa or vanilla (1,110 forints). For a little extra, you can get yours freeze-dried blueberries (1,400 forints).

But then maybe you’re not here for any ordinary chimney cake. Édes Mackó also sells staple Hungarian desserts with a twist, all based on this traditional item by the Vitéz Kürtős ensemble. Rectangle-shaped chunks of chimney cake are layered with walnuts and marmalade to transform kürtőskalács into a slice of Gerbeaud cake (700 forints).

Then there is mákos guba (poppy-seed bread pudding), where chimney-cake pieces are soaked in pre-packed vanilla pudding and sprinkled with poppy-seed and a dab of crushed almonds (700 forints). Children’s favourite semolina pudding and floating islands dessert (made with egg custard and topped with chunks of meringue) also contain kürtőskalács.

And while these modest desserts might not be as filling as a whole chimney cake, it’s worth seeing how sweet Hungarian classics, like krémes cream slice, are recreated with the caramelised Magyar treat.

Megjelent első bookazine-unk, ne maradj le róla!

Már 15 éve lélegzünk összhangban a fővárossal. Jubileumi kiadványunkban mindent megtalálsz, ami magazinunk és eddigi munkánk esszenciája. Gasztronómia, kultúra, városi legendák és Budapest arcai, interjúk, történetek és a legjobb helyek – úgy, ahogyan mi látjuk a fővárost.

Rendeld meg itt vagy keresd a nagyobb könyvesboltokban!

hirdetés